Trigonometric equations

Lesson
16-18

The general solution of trigonometric equations

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Standards
Learning Outcome 3: Space, shape and measurement
Assessment Standard AS 3.5(d)
Determine the general solution of trigonometric equations.

Overview

Overview

In this lesson you will:

Establish the general solution for sin = p, cos = p and tan = p by

looking at the trigonometric graphs studied in Grade 10
Use your calculator correctly to both establish trigonometrical ratios and
angles
Solve trigonometric equations in a given domain.
Lesson

Lesson
This is the graph of y = cos x which you learnt about in Grade 10.
y

120

120
60

240

x
300 360

Lets use it to solve cos = 0,5 (draw a line y = _12to see where the line intersects the
graph).
As you can see there are many solutions. Those solutions repeat themselves every
360, so we need to add multiples of 360, which happens to be the period of the cos
graph. So lets see what the calculator gives us.
Press [Shift cos 0,5] you get 60 now you have to use this to find all the other solutions.
From the graph the general solution is 60 + k360, k .
Lets now solve cos = 0,5 (Draw a line y = 0,5 to see where the line intersects the
graph).
Once again there are many solutions. The calculator gives us 120. To find all solutions
we write
120 + k360, k .
General solutions for cos = p
Press [Shift cos p] to get and the general solution is + k360, k
These solutions repeat themselves every 360, so we need to add multiples of 360
(which is the period of the cosine graph)

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Example

Examples
1)

Solve for is 2 cos = 0,646 cos = 0,323

Now: = cos1 (0,323) + k360

= 108,8 + k360, k

= 108,8 + k360, k

2) Solve for if cos 3 = 0,632. Get the angle 3 = cos1 ( 0,632) + k360: k

3 = 129,2 + k360.

We dont want 3 we want , so = 43,06 + k120 k . Notice here that the
period of cos 3 is no longer 360, but _
360

= 120
3
3)

Solve for if cos( 40) = tan 22.

cos( 40) = [0,4040262258]

Leave that answer in the calculator and press shift cos to get the angle.

40 = 66,2 + k360 = 40 66,2 + k360

= (106,2 or 26,2) + k360, k

4)

Solve for if cos ( 50) = cos 2. You have the angle. Spread out

cos ( 50) = cos 2

So: 50 = 2 + k360

= 2 = 50 + k360

Thus 3 = 50 + k360 or = 50 + k360

5)

= 16,7 + k120 or = 50 + k360, k

Solve for if cos22 = _1

cos 2 = _
2

2 = cos1(_1)+ k360 or 2 = cos1 ( _12)+ k360

2 = 60 + k360 or 2 = 120 + k360

= 30 + k180 or = 60 + k180, k

6)

cos 3 = cos

We need to remove the negative by reading from the left to the right.

cos 3 = cos and is thus negative.

So cos 3 < 0, and according to the CAST rule, this happens in the 2nd and 3rd
quadrants
The horizontal reduction formulae in these quadrants are 180 and
180 + , so we can combine them to (180 )

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So cos = cos (180 )

Now cos 3 = cos (180 )

3 = 180 + k360

3 = 180 + k360

If we split:

3 = 180 + k360

4 + = 180 + k360

2 = 180 + k360

3 = 180 + k360

+ = 450 + k90

Since [ 180; 90]

For 1: = 45; 135

From 2: = 90; 30; 150

(1)

= 90 + k120 (2), k

Co-ratio equations
7.

Solve for if cos ( 10) = sin 2 .

If this was cos ( 10) = cos 2 as in a similar example (4) above, then the
ratios are already balanced. So we would only focus on the angles.

Here our duty is to get those ratios the same:

Remember sine becomes cosine in vertical reduction, so cos ( 10) = cos 2

and the sin 2 has a positive sign in front of it. So we ask where is
( 10) positive?
According to the CAST rule,
quadrants.


90

+
+

, it will be positive in the first and fourth

So in the first quadrant sin 2 = cos (90 2) and in the fourth quadrant sin 2
= cos (2 90) quadrant

So: cos ( 10) = cos (90 2) or cos ( 10) = cos (2 90)

10 = 90 2 + k360 or 10 = 2 90 + k360

3 = 100 + 360
100
and = ( _
)+ k120
3

= 80 + k360
= 80 + k360, k
Lesson

Workbook: Lesson 16 Activity

For conclusion
This is the graph of y = tan x (you learnt to draw it in Grade 10)

Lesson

Lesson 1718
(45; 1)

45
63,4

45
(45; 1)
180

180

We will use the graph to solve tan x = _12

Draw the line y = _1. (Press shift tan.5, and the calculator gives us 26,6).
2

We need to include all the solutions. We simply add k180 if k because the period

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Lesson 1 | Algebra

of the tan graph is 180

General solution: x = 26,6 + k180 k .
Now lets solve tan x = _23
then + k180 k )

(Draw the line and see what the calculator gives you,

so x = 63,4 + k180 k
General solution for tan = p
= tan1 (p) + k180 k
k
Example

Worked examples
1.

Solve for

tan 3 = 2,7

Press Shift tan (2,7) to get the angle and write down the general solution.

3 = 69,7 + k180 Divide by 3

= 23,2 + k60, k

2.

Solve for if [180 ; 180]

tan2 = 0,81

tan = 0,9

tan = 0,9 or tan = 0,9

= 42 + k180 or = 42 + k180, k

Substitute for k to find angles between [180 ; 180]

{138 ; 42 ; 42 ; 138}

3.

Solve for if tan 3 = tan( + 20)

tan 3 = tan ( + 20)

tan 3 < 0

So tan 3 = tan (180 20)

3 = 160 + k180

4 = 160 + k180

= 40 + k45, k

tan 3 = tan ( 20)

3 = 20 + k180

4 = 20 + k180

= 5 + k45

Split them
Find angles for the general solution

NB: Can you see that both answers are in fact the same? This is important, and
that happens because of the period of the tan graph. So we only need to look
at one quadrant.
4.

Solve for x if 3 sin 2x = 2 cos 2x

sin 2x _
_

= 2
cos 2x

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3
2
tan 2x = _

2x = 33,7 + k180

x = 16,85 + k90
Solution

General solution for sin = p

sin is +ve in quadrants 1 and 2

So if sin = p

then:
sin1(p)
=
+ k360; k
180 sin1(p)

Example

Example 1
Find the general solution for in sin = _12:

sin = _12

sin1(_1)
2 + k360;
=

180 sin1(_1)

{ }

30
=
150 + k360, k

Example

Example 2
sin 2 = _34

sin1( _34)
2 =
+ k360
180 sin1( _34)

2 = 48,6

+ k360
180( 48,6)

2 = 48,6

+ k360
228,6

24,3
=

+ k180, k
114,3
Example

Example 3
Solve for if sin 2 = 0,8

2 = 53,13 + k360 or 2 = 180 (53,13) + k360

= 26,56 + k180 or 2 = 233,13 + k360

= 116,56 + k180, k

Co-ratio equations

Solve for x if sin 2x = cos 3x

In front of the cos, there is a + sign

So sin 2x > 0 and according to the CAST rule,

second quadrants.

+
+

, this is in the first and

So we need to make the cosine a sine, and we can only do this through vertical
reduction. That is cos 3x becomes sin(90 3x)
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Lesson 1 | Algebra

So: sin 2x = sin(90 3x)

2x = 90 3x + k360

2x 3x = 90 + k360 or 2x + 3x = 90 + k360

x = 90 + k360

x = 90 + k360 x = 18 + k72; k

5x = 90 + k360

Trigonometric equations involving factorisation.

a)
Example

Common factor problems are those that usually have two terms.

Example
Solve for x: 3 cos x sin x = 2 cos x
Do not divide by cos x because you will lose solutions
3 cos x sin x 2 cos x = 0.

Write in the form where one side is zero.

cos x (3 sin x 2) = 0.
cos x = 0 or sin x = _2

Take out a common factor

x = 90 + k360 or x = 41,8 + k360 or x = 138,2 + k360 k

b)

Trinomials (3 terms)

a a 2
2

is a quadratic trinomial that we can factorise.

So is a2 ab b2
In trigonometry we sometimes need to create trinomials.
Example

Example
1.

Solve for if 2 sin2 + 5 cos + 1 = 0

Look at the nonsquared term.

We need a trinomial in terms of cos that is with only cos and no sine terms.

Use sin2 = 1 cos2

2(1 cos2) + 5 cos + 1 = 0

2 2 cos2 + 5 cos + 1 = 0

2 cos2 + 5 cos + 3 = 0

Simplify
Change signs

 2 cos2 5 cos 3 = 0 Factorise. (This is similar to 2x2 5x 3 = 0

where x = cos .)

(2cos + 1)(cos 3) = 0

2 cos = 1 or cos = 3

2 cos = 1 or cos = 3
cos = _1

= cos ( _12)+ k360

= 120 + k360
1


This is a quadratic trinomial with middle term 3 sin cos . The algebraic
equivalent is: a2 + 2ab + b2 = 0. So we have cos2, and 3 sin cos and we now need
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a sin2 to complete the trinomial. The only way we can bring that in is by using the 1,
since = sin2 + cos2 .

So cos2 3 sin cos + sin2 + cos2 = 0

2.

Solve for if [180 ; 360] and

cos2 3 sin cos + 1 = 0

cos2 3 sin cos + sin2 + cos2 = 0

2 cos2 3 sin cos + sin2 = 0

(2 cos sin )(cos sin ) = 0

Factors

Create tan

2 cos = sin or cos = sin

sin
2=_
sin
or_

=1

tan = 2 or tan = 1

= 63,4 + k80 or = 45 + k180, k

{116,6; 135; 45; 63,4; 225; 243,4}

cos

cos

Equations with four terms: Group in twos

Example

Example
Solve for x if 2 sin2x + 2 sin x cos x + sin x + cos x = 0
2 sin x (sin x + cos x) + (sin x + cos x) = 0
(sin x + cos x)(2 sin x + 1) = 0
sin x = cos x or sin x = _1
2

tan x = 1
x = 45 + k180 or x = 30 + k360 or x = 210 + k360,

Your Fact File

If sin = p
and 1 p 1,
1
sin (p)
then =
+ k360 , k
180 sin1(p)
If cos = p
and 1 p 1,
1
then = cos (p) + k360 , k

If tan = p
and p ,
1
then = tan (p) + k180 , k

1 = sin + cos2
If equations have 2 terms

You look for a common factor

You may have to use co-ratios

You may have to form the tan ratio if each side has a cos and sine of the same
angle

If equations have three terms, it is usually a quadratic trinomial

If there are 4 terms, you have to group them in pairs

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Lesson 1 | Algebra

Activity

Activity 1
Solve for (if necessary, correct to one decimal place)
1.
tan3 = _
1_

Activity

[60 ; 60]

2.

tan( + 20) = tan(130 )

[180 ; 180]

3.

tan = tan 40

[360 ; 0]

4.
5.

sin = 2 cos ; [180 ; 180]

sin = _1cos

[180 ; 180]

6.

sin + 3 cos = 0

[90 ; 180]

Activity 2
Instruction: Find the general solutions to the following equations.
1.

sin (3 + 24) = 0,279

2.

cos ( + 50) = 0,814

3.

tan2 3 = 3

4.

cos 2x = sin (x 40)

5.

tan (90 x) = tan (2x + 60)

_
sin 2 = 1
6. 2
Activity

Activity 3
In each case, solve the equation according to the given domain.

Activity

1.

2 sin2 3 cos2 = 2 if [360 ; 360]

2.

2 sin cos sin = 1 2 cos

3.

cos (5 40 = sin (2 20)

4.

5 sin2 + 2 cos 5 cos sin = 2 sin

Activity 4
Solve:
1.

cos 2A = cos 3A

2.

2 cos2x = 3 sin x + 3 if x [360 ; 360]

3.

10 cos2 10 sin cos + 2 = 0

4.

cos ( 30) = sin 50

5.

cos 3 x = sin 4 x

6.

3 sin2 x 5 cos2 x = 0

7.

cos2x sin2x = 3 sin x + 2

8.

cos2 1 = 2 sin cos

cos x
2 sin x _

+ 2 cos x = 1 if x [180 ; 360]

9.
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sin x